Serenity--Basket Case (Serenity (Barbour)) [Paperback]

Realbuzz Studios (Author)

Book Description

Series: Serenity (Barbour) | Publication Date: March 15, 2006

Manga momentum keeps building around the world, and Barbour Publishing has the premier inspirational graphic novels for the American market. In Serenity, Volume 3: Basket Case, the prayer club's pet project is at her irresponsible best, belittling a health class assignment that makes teens care for chicken eggs 24/7 to simulate the work a baby requires. But when an overwhelming responsibility falls into Serenity's lap, who can she turn to for help-the prayer club members she's made fun of, or the God she doesn't quite believe exists? Tween and teen girls will love the continuing spiritual soap opera of Serenity.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Buzz Dixon is the founder of RealBuzz Comics. A veteran of the comic and cartoon industry, Buzz has worked with Stan Lee of Marvel Comics, and worked on numerous projects ranging from Precious Moments to Tiny Toons to G.I. Joe. Buzz and his family live in Southern California. Min "Keiiii: Kwon is responsible for the penciling and the inking for Serenity. Although primarily a manga illustrator, the recent Rutgers graduate works in many different forms of visual art.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Incorporated (March 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593108729
• ISBN-13: 978-1593108724
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,704,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Christian Manga, April 27, 2006

By 

Aly-oops! (NM, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Serenity--Basket Case (Serenity (Barbour)) (Paperback)

Serenity is a rebellious high-schooler who somehow always finds herself in the midst of some kind of trouble. She's angry, has a horrible attitude, & is the antithesis of the teen most parents would want their child to befriend. That is, until a local church youth group, who's members attend the same high school as Serenity, decide to make her their "project".

Finally!!! Some manga I feel comfortable giving my step-daughter, 13. She really got into the Yuyu Hakusho books, to which she was introduced by a friend. Neither my husband or myself ever really approved of the Yuyu Hakusho books, but she loved the artwork. When I saw these, I snatched them up. I read through the first one & greatly appreciated the ideas & morals presented. We gave step-daughter the first book in this series for Christmas, & she loves it! She bought the third book at Borders, but couldn't find the second one. (She's getting that for her birthday.)

The one (possible) drawback is that these books read from front to back, like most western books, instead of back to front, like many Japanime books. I mention it simply b/c step-daughter drew it to my attention.

If you've got a teen or pre-teen who loves manga but would prefer they actual read something of substance, this is the series for which you've been waiting. All the flashy artwork with none of the occultic overtones or mystical storylines. Most teens can relate to the stories presented, especially if they attend public school. Step-daughter is eagerly awaiting more releases.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational manga: Serenity Book 3, January 21, 2008

By 

K. Yong (California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Basket Case (Serenity) (Paperback)

Billed as "inspirational manga", the Serenity series from Realbuzz Studios is a full-color comic book series focusing on slice-of-life teenage drama. The stories revolve around the interaction between the title character (a newly transferred high school student with a troubled past) and the school's Christian club (whose members have themselves struggled through a wide range of temptations and who have "adopted" Serenity as one of their own). Each volume contains two or more interlocking short stories that tell the ongoing tale of Serenity's journey of faith.

Story summary of volume 3: "Serenity: Basket Case"
* Someone downloads a "purity test" from the internet and it quickly passes through the school grapevine. Gossip, guilt, and parental guidance ensure.
* Serenity resents being forced to "babysit" an egg for a class project, but she stumbles upon even greater responsibility when she discovers an abandoned newborn in a dumpster.

(Possible parental advisory: "Serenity" is set amid the pressures of a modern high school, and as such the teenage characters are confronted with realistic issues that range from boredom and jealousy to drug addiction and sexuality. Through it all, the stories present the honest struggle between Serenity's fragile faith and the lure of her former self-destructive lifestyle.)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE these! My Kids Love them too!, April 9, 2009

By 

M. Elliott "Family of 5" (Palmetto, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Basket Case (Serenity) (Paperback)

My kids REALLY enjoy these books and they come to me with LOTS of questions about the characters and why they do certain things. I OWN 10 of these books and LOVE THEM! You don't have to be into Japanese art or Manga or even know what those terms are...

I work with youth full time and THIS is the way that many of them act. The questions presented are ones that they have, the situations are realistic and in REAL LIFE, these are the kind of characters I have in my youth group. They are relational for kids in the teenage and tweenage years, but are not written for Suzie Sunday School as their crowd. They are aimed at presenting the Gospel to kids who would normally not even be interested. Serenity accepts Christ in Book SIX but it is important to see what it took to get her there.

BOTTOM LINE: This series IS racey, to reach the "right crowd" but not inappropriately so. The topics are edgy, but not anything that teens and tweens aren't experiencing in your OWN living rooms and schools. They are also inexpensive and entertaining, but not for us, 20's to 30's. Those that didn't think thre was adequate character development or that the characters were flat, you're right...but you should probably be reading something more on level!